Tobacco curer



June 1, 19 3 7. v

G. E. HODGIN TOBACCO CURER Filed NOV. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June l, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claim.

This invention is directed to-an apparatus for curing tobacco in the use of which the tobacco when cured is of a desirable, bright and golden color with full maintenance of its light tissue.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus wherein .the barn or other housing in which the tobacco is stored is appropriately heated by the circulation of a dry heated medium, the source of heatfor which is located entirely beyond the barn to avoid the possibility of fire in the barn.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby air brought to a requisite temperature by the heating unit is circulated more or less freely in the barn structure and wherein the air in the barn is further heated by the circulation of a heated liquid medium with the source of heat in the heating unit.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation, partly broken out, illustrating the improved tobacco curing apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the heating unit showing the means for delivering heated air for circulation within the barn and the means for heating water to be circulatedv through a pipe.arrangement in the barn for heating the air therein.

Figure 3 is a broken perspective view showing the upper end of the heating drum.

Figure 4 is a broken perspective view of the barn showing the pipes for the circulation of the heated liquid.

The improved apparatus comprises a barn I or pass to a flue or chimney 6. Within and spaced in all directions from the casing 5 is a heating drum 1, the air in which is highly heated by the products of combustion which completely envelop the drum. The upper end of the drum communicates with an outlet hot air pipe through which the heated air in the drum is directed to the interior of the barn. This outlet pipe 8 extends vertically from the drum and then laterally at 9 to and within the barn below the tobacco. This length 9 of the outlet pipe 8 is open at the end remote from the heater, as at I 0, and is formed in that portion within the 5 barn with a series of openings II inorder to permit the heated air to escape more or less freely within the barn.

A return pipe l2 presents a length below and substantially parallel to the length 9 of the out- 10 let pipe, being open at the end within the barn at l3 and leading to and communicating with the lower end of the drum 1. Provision is thus made for highly heating the air within the drum, circulating the air through the barn, and 15 returning it to the heater and drum for further heating.

In addition to the heating of air beyond the barn and circulating the same through the barn,

provision. is made for maintaining the air with- .in the barn at a desired degree through the mediumof a, circulating pipe medium. Thus, the barn is interiorly provided with connected pipe lengths l5 extending longitudinally of the barn in spaced relation on each side, with return loops Hi from each set of pipe lengths covering the ends of the barn, with such loops at one end leading outwardly from the barn through pipes I1 and I8. The pipe I! of each set of radiator sections within the barn lead to and communi- 30 cate with a coil [9 extending into the fire box and to and closely encircling the drum 1 while the pipes l8 communicate with the opposite end of the coil. Thus, the water is heated by the products of combustion and by the heat of the drum 1 and caused to circulate through the radiator pipes in the barn at the lower portion thereof to further heat and dry the air within 'the barn. The water circulating system is provided with an inlet 30 for replenishing the Water 40 in the system when desired, a drain outlet 20, while valves 2| in the water circulating system and dampers 22 in the air circulating system provide for appropriate control of the heating mediums and therefore the control of the heat to which the tobacco is subjected.

In orderto utilize as much of the heat as possible for the curing of the tobacco, the casing 5 is surrounded by an auxiliary casing 23 which is arranged in spaced relation to the casing 5 to provide an air space 24. The casing 5 extends to and surrounds the fire box. Air is admitted to this spacethrough a controllable door inlet 25 at the lower end of the burner, and the space at the upper end is in communication with pipe sections 2 which lead into the outlet P p I of the air circulating means. Air is thus heated in the space 24 both from passing over the fire and from the wall of the casing I. This heated air is delivered to and augments he air passing from the drum I, and thus adds to the volume and heat of such air.

The barn is preferably provided near the upper end with an opening controlledby a door 21, a similar opening and controlling door 28 being arranged near the bottom of the barn. Any conventional means may be provided for holding the doors in various degrees of opening in order to appropriately ventilate and admit fresh airto the interior of the barn. Of course, the ventilating doors and openings may be arranged at any appropriate points and in any number suillcient to control the ventilation, as may be desired.

From-the above it will be noted that the heating unit, which ordinarily constitutes a considerable flre hazard is located entirely beyond the barn, so that there is no liability of me. The air within the barn and the air delivered thereto and circulated therein is dry and heated to the desired degree. This eliminates completely the damp, stagnant air in the barn which invariably causes a sweating and sponging of the tobacco with a consequent deterioration of its value. With the use of complete circulation of hot, dry air within the barn, the tobacco is cured to a bright golden color with even less heat requirements than heretofore, with the result that the tobacco retains a material portion of its light tissue which, together with its color, constitutes its value. 1

Of course, the air circulating pipes will be of suilicient diameter to deliverand circulate an appropriate volume of air, and while the water radiator pipes are shown as located at the lower portion of the barn, they may, if desired, be located at other appropriate points to insure the best heat transference for the particular work in hand.

Whatisclaimedtobenewis:

1. A tobacco curing apparatus including an enclosure in which the tobacco is suspended, a heater disposed beyond and wholly free of the enclosure, a drum in the heater subjected to the heating influence of'the products of-combustion from the heater,.an outlet pipe leading from the drum to and longitudinally of the enclosure-for discharging heated air from the drum within the enclosure, and a second pipe open to the enclosure for withdrawing air therefrom, said second pipe communicating with the drum.

2. A tobacco curing apparatus including an enclosure in which the tobacco is suspended, at

heater disposed beyond and wholly free of the enclosure, a drum in the heater subjected to the heating influence of the products of combustion from the heater, an outlet pipe leading from the drum to and longitudinally of the enclosure for discharging heated air from the drum within the enclosure, a second pipe open to the enclosurefor withdrawing air therefrom, said second pipe communicating with the drum, a water coil encircling the drum, and water circulating pipes in communication with the coil and arranged u-diacent the walls on the interior of the enclosure.

3. A tobacco curing apparatus including an enclosure in which the tobacco is suspended, a heater disposed beyond and wholly free of the enclosure, a drum in the heater subjected to the heating influence of the products of combustion from the heater, an outlet pipe leading from the drum to and longitudinally of the enclosure for discharging heated air from the drum within the enclosure, a second pipe open to the enclosure for withdrawing air therefrom, said secand pipe communicating with the drum, a water coll encircling the drum, and water circulating pipes in communication with the coil and ar-' to the drum, an auxiliary casing enveloping and spaced from the flrst mentioned casing, and pipe sections establishing communication between the space between said casings and the outlet pipe from the drum.

5. A heating unit for a tobacco curing house including a heater having an upstanding casing for the passage of 'the products of combustion, a'drum within and closed against the casing, a heated air outlet pipe leading from the drum to the curing'house and opening within the latter, a return pipe leading from the curing housetothedrumanauxiliarycssingenveloping and spaced from the flrst mentioned casing, pipe sections establishing communication .between the space between said casings and the outlet pipe from the drum, a water coil encircling the drum, and water circulating pipes communicating with the coil and extended within the curing house for heat radiation.

GUBNII I. HODGIN. 

